Vacuum breaker



lNvEN-roR ErneistWMr/I. BY /9 ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 1941. E. w. wcRK VACUUM BREAKER y Filed Oct. l5, 1938 Patented Aug. 19, 1941 UNITED STATES i PATENT oFFlc Ernest W. Work,- New Britain, Conn., assigner vto The Beaton & Cadwell Manufacturing Conipany, New Britain, yConn., a corporation of Connecticut applicati@ october 15,1938, serial No. 235,217

` 1s claims. (o1. 137-69) This invention relates to plumbing apparatus, and more particularly to an improved vacuum breaker adapted to be included in the pipe connection leading from the flush valve to a sanitary plumbing fixture, such as a water-closet bowl.

This invention is particularly adapted for use with water supply systems wherein the feed line is utilized to furnish water, not only for washing, drinking and cooking, but also for sanitary purposes. It has been found that when-a sanitary iixture, such as a water-closet bowl or bath-tub, is connected to'the riser pipe `of a supply line, grave danger exists that the supply line may become contaminated bythe return oi liquid from said fixture into the supply whenever vacuum conditions occur in the supply line. This danger is present in almost all houshold and building water supply systems and arises usually when a large flow of water is being taken from other fixtures connected to the same supply line. 'I'he vacuum so producedis often sufficient to draw contaminated material from these fixtures baci/e into the supply system, and thus cause the 'spread of disease, such astyphoid fever.`

-One object of this invention is to provide an improved vacuum breaker whichls adapted lto be included as a part of the pipe connection between a ilush valve or like fixture and a sanitary plumbing iixture.

A still further object is to provide a vacuum breaking device of the above nature'which will view of the connecting pipey and vacuum breaker located therein, said view being taken or. the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows, and showing in iull lines the valve member in its normal open position when no water is owing therethrough, and in dotted'lines in the closed position which it occupies when water is `flowing through the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 in Flg. Z. y y

Fig. 4' is a perspective exploded view of., the valve member with its parts shown in separatedVY relationship.l l

yReferring now'to the drawing wherein like reference (.:haract'ers` denote the same parts throughout the several views, the numeral Il designates a vertical water supply pipe or riser l which is hereinshown located behind the wall of l. low the vone illustrated. The plumbing fixture not. interfere with the flow of water in oneI dL- rection, but will positively prevent reverse ilow y of water whenever a vacuum occurs back of the vacuum breaking device, this being accomplished by providing a passage leading to the other atmosphere which destroys any vacuum formed in the fixture or in the system connected therewith.

A still further object is to provide a vacuum t breaker of the above nature which will be vcomiparatively simple in construction, inexpensive to -manuiacture, easy to install, compact, inconnected to' said ilush valve.

Fig. 2 is an -enlarged longitudinal sectional herein shown comprises a water-closet bowl ill which is connected to the riser pipe It by means, of a short vertical pipe l2,- a ilush valve. i3 yhavg ing acontrol handle Il, a horizontal pipe vsection I5 and a T-connection Il. f

As clearly shown in Figs. l2`and 3,`the hush valve Il has a depending pipe -pntion i1 which 'has an enlarged threaded lower end 2li. The ver..

tical pipe l2 has a ilared upper end Il for enl vportion l, and as mentioned above, the lower end 22 of said casing 23 is adapted to be clamped by the inturned ilangell or the union il to the short vertical pipe I2.

The casing 28 is provided with a water'4 ber 2l, lan intermediate 'discharge' chamber-02|,

andan air inlet chamber 2l, said chambers being separated from each other by partitlonsll vand 2l.l 'Ih'he water chamber 2l is openatits an outletopening '3| at its bottom whereit is connected with the pipe I2.' The intermediate chamber 2l. is also connected with the air inlet chamber 2l through an 'Il provided in intermediate chamber 23, and the air inlet chamber 26 through the opening 32 to maintain the closet bowl II in free venting connection with the atmosphere. When the ush valve is operated, the valve member will be forced into the dotted line position to close the opening 32 and prevent the passage of water through the air inlet opening 33.

The valve member 35 includes in itsstructure, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, an elongated central metallic plate 33, preferably rectangular in form. 'Ihe plate 36 is adapted to be supported at its lower edge upon a cotter pin 31 which extends between a pair of depending lugs 33 and 33 disposed one on each side of the bottom outlet opening 3| and secured to the lower endv of the `casing 23. The cotter pin preferably slopes downwardly slightly from the lower end of the partition 28 to the lower end of the partition 21.

Discs and 4l of leather or other suitable seal-l l Operation In operation, the loose valve member 35 will normally be maintained in full line position cur in the supply pipe I3 and continue through the valve I3, the pipe portion I1, and into the lchamber 24, the loose floating valve member 3B will be pressed by "hb atmosphere against the opening 30 and the disc 4II` will eiectively close and seal the same to prevent any possibility of back-siphonage from thel closet bowl into 4the system.

One advantage of the present invention is that it may be readily installed as a part of the existing system without expensive changes.

A further advantage is that the vacuum breaker device will be rendered inconspicuous by being made a part of the connection between the flush valve and the sanitary fixture, thereby avoiding unsightly attachments as in prior vacuum breaking devices.

While there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be` cylindrical casing, said casing having three separated chambers provided therein, the first of said chambers being connected to the water supv ply and to the second chamber, the second chamber being connected at its bottom to an outlet and to a third chamber, said third chamber x being open to the atmosphere, and a free shiftable upstanding closure member disposed in said shown in Fig. 2 by the action of the weight 43.

When the flush valve I3 is opened by manipulation of the handle I4, the flow of water impingchamber 24 through the opening 30 in the partition 21 into the intermediate chamber '25, then through the bottom outlet opening 3I into the short pipe I2, and thence to the closet bowl II.

v 'When the ush valve closes, it will be clear thata partial vacuum will be formed, due to the mildsuction action of the last portion of the flushing stream passing to the closet bowl at the side of the plate 36 facing the partition 21, and atmospheric' pressure will then act upon the plate 36 to slide the bottom edge thereof along the inclined pin 31 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and ther valve member 35 will then assume the full line position shown in Fig. 2.` Air will then be permitted to enter the chamber 25 and destroy any vacuum existing either below or above ow from the closet bowl into the water supply pipe I0.' which might otherwise occur when water is being drawn from other fixtures and outlets in the supply system. Should a vacuum ocmiV it, thereby preventing any possibility of a back second chamber and being slidably supported at the bottom of said second chamber and adapted to normally permit the flow of water from said first chamber through said second chamber, said closure member being acted uponby the flowing water and moved thereby into a position to close communication to the atmosphere.

2. In a vacuum breaker for a liquid system. a cylindrical casing, said casing including a water chamber connected to a water supply, an intermediate chamber connected to said water chamber and having means at the bottom thereof for connection to an outlet, an air chamber lconf nected to the atmosphere and to the intermediate chamber, said intermediate chamber having valve seats at the points of connection with said water and air chambers and a rockable upstanding thin double-faced valve member disposed in said intermediate chamber and freely movable therein to automatically engage said valve seats and close the connection between said air chamber and said intermediate chamber when water is owing through said intermediate chamber and to open this connection lwhen the flow of water stops.

3. A vacuum breaker device comprising a casing having a water chamber connected with a water supply, an air chamber connected with the atmosphere, and an intermediate chamber connected to said water chamber and said air chamber and" having a bottom outlet, and a rockable lvalve closure member slidably supported at the bottom of said intermediate chamber adapted to close the connection with said air- 4. A.vacuum breaker device comprising a casing having a water chamber connected with a water supply, an air chamber connected with the outside atmosphere, and an intermediate chamber connected to both of said chambers and having a bottom outlet, a pin extending below said outlet, and a common closure member in said intermediate chamber and slidably and pivotally supported on said pin.

5. A vacuum breaker device comprising a casing having a water chamber connected with a water supply, an air chamber connected with the outside atmosphere, and an intermediate chamber having a bottom outlet and having side connections to said air chamber and said water chamber, a valve member in said intermediate chamber, inclined means below said intermediate chamber and above said outlet to support said valve member, said valve member having a weight on one side to unbalance said member and cause the bottom thereof to slide along said support to open said air chamber to the atmosphere upon the occurrence of a small degree of suction. f

. closure member located in said intermediate chamber and slidably and pivotall-y resting on said support means.

'7. A vacuum breaker device comprising a casing having a water chamber connected with a -water supply, an air chamber connected with the outside atmosphere, and an intermediate chamber having a bottom outlet and connected at its sides to said air chamber and said water chamber, a relatively thin double-faced valve member in said intermediate chamber, inclined means below said intermediate chamber and `above said outlet to support said valve member, said valve member being caused to slide along said support means Ato open said air chamberto the atmosphere and close said water chamber upon theoccurrence oi.' a small degree of suction.

8. In a vacuum breaker device for installation in a water supply system, a cylindrical casing having a water chamber connected with a water supply, an air chamber connected with the outside atmosphere, an intermediate chamber having an outlet opening at its bottom and having transversely alined circular valve seats in its vsides leading to said water chamber and said said air chamber valve seat when water under pressure ows through said device and having meansto seat upon and close said water chamber valve seatl to prevent back-siphonage from y cated between said water chamber and said air chamber and having an outlet centrally located in said casing, said outlet chamber having annular .valve seat openings in its side walls located in horizontal alinement with each other and leading to said water chamber and said air chamber respectively, and a thindouble-faced valve member movably mounted in said outlet chamber vadapted to seat on said water chamber valve seat opening when a vacuum occurs in said system and to seat on said air chamber valve seat opening when water-is flowing through said device.

11. In a vacuum breaker device for installation in a water supply system, a cylindrical casing having a water chamber 'provided with an upper inlet connected with a water supply, an air chamber connected with the outside atmosphere,'an intermediate chamber having a bottom outlet and circular valve openings in its sides leading to said water chamber and said air chamber respectively, and a valve member movably mounted in said intermediate chamber and adapted to seaton said water chamber valve seat when a vacuum occurs in said system. and to seat on said air chamber valve seat when water is flowing through said device, said valve seats being located on opposite sides of the center line of said cylindrical casing. A

12. In a vacuum breaker device for installation in a water supply system, a substantially cylindrical casing having a water chamber connected with a water supply, an air chamber connectedv with the outside atmosphere, an interand adapted to seat upon said air chamber valve air chamber respectively, and a swing'able thin,

' double-faced valve member in said intermediate mediate chamber located between and horizontally alined with said water chamber and said air chamber, said, intermediate chamber having seat when water from said supply iiows through said device and adapted to seat upon said water chamber valve seat upon the occurrence of a vacuum in said device to avoid backsiphonage from said outlet into said system.

. stantial horizontal alinement with said water a bottom outlet opening and transversely alined chamber and said air chamber, said intermediate chamber being located substantially-at the center of said casing, and having a bottom outletv and adapted to seat upon said air chamber valve seat when water from said supply ows through chamber and said air chamber, said intermediatev chamber being located substantially at the center of said casing, and having a bottom outlet and valve seat openings in its sides leading to ,said water chamber and said air chamber respectively, a thin double-faced valve member movably mounted in said intermediate chamber and adapted to seat upon said air chamber valve seat whenvwater from said supply flows through said device and adapted to seat upon said water chamber valve seat upon the occurrence of a vacuum in said device to avoid backsiphonage from said outlet into said system, the central point of the travel of said valve member being located substantially at the center of said casing.

15. In a vacuum breaker device for installal tion in a water supply system, a substantially cylindrical casing having a water chamber connected with-a water supply, an air chamber connected with the outside atmosphere,l an intermediate chamber located between and in substantial horizontal alinement with said water chamber and said air chamber, said intermediate chamber being located substantially at the center of said casing. and having a bottom outlet and valve seat openings inits sides leading to said water chamber and said air chamber respectively, a thin double-faced valve member movably mounted in said intermediate chamber and adapted to seat upon vsaid air chamber valve seat when water from said supply iiows through seid device and adapted to seat upon said water valve seat` upon the occurrence of a vacuum in said device to avoid backsiphonage from said outlet-into said system, said valve member being parallel to the center line oi' said casing at one point of its travel between its valve seats.

16. In a vacuum breaker device for installa-l tion in a water supply system, a substantially cylindrical casing having a water chamber connectedwith a water supply, an air chamber connected with the outside atmosphere. 'an intermediate chamber located between and in substantial horizontal alinement with said water.

chamber and said air chamber, said intermediate chamber being located substantially at the center of said casing, and having a bottom outlet and valve seat openings in its sides leading to said lwater chamber and said air chamber respectively, a thin double-faced valve member movably mounted in-said intermediate chamber and adapted to seat upon said air chamber valve seat when water from said supply flows through said device and adapted to seat upon said water chamber valve seat uponfthe occurrence of a vacuum in said device to avoid backsiphonage from said outlet into said system, said valve member passing through the center line of said casing during its travel betweenv its valve seats.

ERNEST W. WORK. 

